. >>> president obama declaring an end to the war on budget deficits and pledging to fight the deficit of opportunity for the poor and middle class. in a speech wednesday on his economic priorities, the president said the federal deficit is under control and doesn't present a serious threat to the economy. he focused on the gap between the rich and the poor and making the case for raising the minimum wage to more than $10. while extending unemployment benefits. >> we know that we're going to have greater and greater portion of our people in the service sector and we know that there are airport workers and fast food workers and nurse assistants and retail salespeople who work their tails off and are still living at or barely above poverty and that is why it's well past the time to raise a minimum wage that in real terms right now is below it was than when harry truman was in office. >> republican leaders quickly took issue with the president's poach. house speaker john boehner suggesting the president's policies created the very problems that he described. >> meanwhile republicans and d